Thread control for weft replenishing looms



March 10, 1953 w. H. WAKEFIELD 2,630,843

THREAD CONTROL FOR" WEFT REPLENISHING LOOMS Filed D96. 11, 1951 2 SI- EETS SI-IEET 1 (ME 9 H IEIIIHI'IIIHH llllllllllllllllllllll Hll M I I I I II [B 4 INVENTOR WALTER H.WAKEFIELD ATTORNEY March 10, 1953 w. H. WAKEFIELD THREAD CONTROL FOR WEFT REPLENISHING LOOMS Filed Dec. 11,. 1951 2 slums-mi 2 FIG.3

I NVENTOR WALTER H.WAKH=IELD MM! KIM ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 10, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT mm THREAD CONTROL FOR WEFT REPLENISHING LOOMS Walter H. Wakefield, Worcester, Mass, assignor to Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application December 11, 1951, Serial No. 260,979

19 Claims. 7 l

This invention relates to improvements in control mechanisms for the thread which is attached to a bobbin inserted into a depleted shuttle incident to a weft replenishing operation of a loom.

In weft replenishing looms of the bobbin changing type a fresh bobbin is inserted into the depleted shuttle usually when the lay is on its front center position and the shuttle is then picked when the lay is at or near its top center position. A thread or weft end from the transferred bobbin generally leads to some form of thread holder to which the thread remains attached after the bobbin changing operation. In order to facilitate self-threading of the shuttle it is desirable that the thread be in a relatively rear position when the shuttle is picked. This result can be accomplished by having the thread holder in rear position on the picking operation which occurs immediately after replenishment.

Many bobbin changing looms operate with a center filling stop motion fork on the lay under which the thread of the freshly replenished shuttle should pass in order to permit continued loom operation. When the thread holder is in rear position there is likelihood that the thread will be so far to the rear that it will not support the fork and an unnecessary stoppage will result. To prevent this latter occurrence the thread holder can be moved to a forward position preferably while the shuttle is still in flight to draw the thread under the fork. This general control of the thread holder, that is, first moving it rearwardly to facilitate shuttle threading and then moving it forwardly to draw the thread under the filling fork, has been proposed heretofore by mechanism however which has required special mounting means for the mechanism which operates the thread holder.

It is an'important object of the present invention to'provide operating mechanism for the thread holder supported by already existing parts of a weft replenishing loom, such for instance as the top shaft and some part of the reserve bobbin magazine structure. In this feature of the invention an elongated backwardly and forwardly extending actuator rodis reciprocated by a driving connection, such as an eccentric, with the loom shaft and normally inoperative elements are caused to become operative on a weft replenishing beat of the loom to connect the actuator with the thread holder so that the latter can be moved rearwardly during part of the rotation of theloom shaft and can then move forwardly during further rotation of the shaft.

.A known type of weft replenishing loom adapted more particularly for multicolor work employs tion to mount the thread holder for pivotal move-.

ment on one of the tie rods and support the forward end of the previously mentioned actuatorrod by the thread holder. In this way the actuator rod derives its support from the loom shaft and one of the tie rods and no additional mechanism is required in the form of stands or the like to support the actuator for the thread holder.

When a pivoted thread holder moves rearward from its front position it has an angular motion which might cramp the aforesaid actuator rod unless provision-were made to take the angular motion of the thread holder into account. It is a further object of .the present invention to provide a guide for the forward end of the actuator rod, pivoted preferably on the thread holder, about an axis parallel to the axis of the thread holder so that the guidecan rock during pivotal movement of the thread holder without binding the actuator rod.

Weft replenishing looms of the type already mentioned frequently employ a setting shaft which rocks from its normal position to a set or transfer position preparatory to a bobbin changing operation while the lay is between its top and bottom center positions. It is a further object of the invention to provide interconnecting means, such as hooks, one of which is on the actuator and the other of which moves with the thread holder, and maintain these parts normally in inoperative relation but move them into operative relation incident to movement of the control shaft to its transfer position. The hook which is carried by thethr ead holder means may conveniently be pivoted on the previously mentioned slide guide for the actuator so that angularmotion of the thread holder means will not disturb the angular relation of the two hooked elements as the thread holder is moved rearwardly.

In order that the invention may be clearly view looking in the Figs. 4 and are enlarged vertical sections on lines 4-4 and 5-5, respectively, Fig. 2,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detailed plan view showing part of Fig. 2,

Fig. '7 is a vertical section on line 1T, Fig. 6,

Figs. 8 to 12 are diagrammatic views showing certain parts of the invention in the different positions which-they occupy during the back and forth movement of the thread holder, and

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view showing the lay, shuttle and thread holder in two positions.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1, the loom frame I supports a reserve bobbin magazine M which in the present instance. is of the multicolor type holding several vertical stacks of re.- serve bobbins 2 from which weft ends 3 extend to a thread holder designated generally at H. The thread holder shown is of the geared type and has front and back gears 4 and 5 which turn during loom operation to draw the weft endsaway rom h a azin and hold them taut- The particular form of thread holder set forth in Fig. l is by way of example and it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to the specific type of thread holder shown herein.

The loom has a lay 5 provided with a shuttle box 7 containing a self-threading shuttle S which may be one of several shuttles used in the type of loom set forth more specifically in Fig. 1. The lay is reciprocated backwardly and forwardly by means of o n t rs one o whi h is shs n t 8 driven by a crank shaft 9 which has cranlrs one f h c is s n at 10 These crack re a ua p r f the t sha a d ar on ec e to e e ends o t conn ct rs an a e he means by which a single rotation of the top or crank shaft 9 will move the lay successively through front, top, back and bottom center positions back to front center position each beat of the loom. The loom will ordinarily have a bot.- tom shaft H turning once every second heat of the loom and gears l2 and i3 connect the shafts 9 and l i and keep them in properly timed relation. Picker mechanism P is shown diagrammatically in Fig. l and is the means by which the shuttle is picked out of the box I when the lay is at or near its top center position immediately following a weft replenishing operation.

The magazine is provided with a transferrer arm i5 normally in the raised position, shown in Fig. l and having pivoted thereto a latch I 6 which is normally down and out of the path of a hunter I? on the lay. At the time of a weft replenishing operation one of the bobbins :5 selected from the magazine pushed into the shuttle S by the transferrer arm 55 as the lay approaches its front center position and is moving to the, left as viewed in Fig. 1. At this tim the latch IE will be raised to be in the path of the hunter I! so that motion of the lay causes a bobbinv changing operation of the transferrer arm l5, Herein the bobbin which is c n ed is n ted a 1 and the t r ad. or e d e nd ng f om it o bs threa hold r is designated at T;

h a n nc udes in it v const uction in r n outer bobb n uid n pls esz and 3:! wh ch a e j i d b t rods one o h h i ho at 2 n F g, The ma azine ncl a hori: zontal controller shaft 23 which has secured e o a ca tin 2.4 forme with a e g r bar 25. Included in the magazine construction are several vertical slides one of which is shown at 2B in Fig. 3. A dog 27 is pivoted at 28 near the up! per end of slide 26 and is in the position shown in Fig. 3 when the slide 26 is in its normal down position. When a weft replenishing operation is to occur the slide 26 will first be raised so that its dog will move in a counter-clockwise direction, Fig. 3, to overhang the bar which under normal conditions wil be raised from th position shown in Fig. 3,. As the slide 2.6 subsequently descends the dog will engage the bar 25 and rock shaft 23 to its transfer or set position shown in Fig. 3. This rocking of the shaft occurs ordinarily be tween top and bottom center positions of the lay immediately preceding the front center on which bobbin change occurs. At the time of the bobbin changing operation mechanism not shown herein but well understood returns the shaft 23 to its normal position and this will ordinarily occur when the lay is on or near its front center position prior to picking of the freshly replenished shuttle.

The lay '5, shown diagrammatically in Fig. 13, is provided with the usual fork F- of a center filling stop motion not specifically shown herein but of common construction. This fork controls operation of the loom and if it is supported by weft as the lay moves toward its front position the loom will continue to run, but if weft is not under the fork to support it the loom will then be stopped.

The matter thus far described is of common construction and operates as usual. The shuttle will be picked by the mechanism P when the latter is at or near its midposition between front and back centers while moving rearwardly, or while the lay is near its top center position, and will be in flight across the lay until the latter is at or slightly past its bottomcenter position. In 13 the full line position shows the conditions at the time the freshly replenished shuttle is picked and the dotted lines show the positions they occupy at a later time in the loom cycle.

In carrying the invention into effect provision is made for moving the thread holder backwardly and forwardly in the loom. The thread holder includes an arm having a hub 36 rockabiy mounted on the tie rod 22, as shown in 3. Collars 3i secured to the rear tie rod locate the hub alon the length of the rod. The tie rod is Xtended and has secured thereto a stop means 38 held to the tie rod by set screws 38 and having downwardly extending front and back arms 49 and M, respectively. These arms are provided, respectively, with stop screws 42 and 43 between which the arm 35 extends. A spring 3 3 has one end thereof connected to the magazine at 35 and has the other end 46 thereof connected to the arm 35 at 47. This spring normally holds the arm and thread holder in forward position against the front stop screw 42 but yields to permit the thread holder and its arm to swing rear wardly or to the right as viewed in Fig. 1 around the tie rod as a pivot.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 4 the shaft Q is provided with an eccentric 50 secured by screws 5% to a hub 52 held in angularl'y and longitudinally adjusted position on the shaft 9 by set screws 53. As shown herein the periphery of the eccentric to is provided with a circular notch 55 which receives an eccentric strap56 fitting around the periphery of the eccentric and held in, position in the notch by a plate 5'7 which is secured to the eccentric by screws 53. Fixed to the eccentric strap by a bclt 60 is a head 61 into which is tapped the rear end. of anfactuator rod A nut 83 may be employed to hold the adjusted setting of the rod 5.2 with respect to the head 6!.

During loom operation thecrank shaft 9 will turn in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 and will cause the eccentric to reciprocate the rod 62 backwardly and forwardly once for each beat of the loom. As contemplated herein the eccentric may be considered as a means on the shaft 9,. or operating connections between the shaft and the actuator, to reciprocate the latter by rotation of the crank shaft 9.

The arm 35 is provided with means designated generally at 64 for supportin the forward end of the actuator rod 62. The particular means shown for instance in Fig. 2 is that which may be employed when the invention is applied to looms already built but the means need not necessarily be of the exact form shown herein.

A support 55 has a foot 66 which is secured by screws 67 to the arm 35. The support is pro vided with a bearing 58 the axis of which is substantially parallel to the axis of shaft 9 and also to the axis of the tie rod 22. Bearing 88 receives a gudgeon 69 secured to and extending laterally from a slide carrier or guide It through which extends a bore H which receives the forward end of rod 62. The slide guide is provided with front and back bearings 12 and 73, respectively, for the rod 62 and one side of the bore H communicates with an opening or slot 14 which defines spaced walls 15 and 16 which support a pivot pin 'il in fixed position with respect to the slide guide. This pin extends across the slot i l and has pivotally mounted thereof a hook element 80 the rear end of which, the right end as shown in Fig. 7, is provided with a hook SI for cooperation with a rearwardly facing hook element 82 formed on the actuator rod 62. Hook element 80 has a stop finger 83 to engage a surface 84 of the slide guide 10 to limit counter-clockwise movement of the element 80 as viewed in Fig. '7. The hook element 80 also has a forwardly extending arm 85 connected to one end of a relatively weak spring 86 the other end of which is attached to a screw 8'! tapped into bearing i2. Spring 86 normally holds hook 8i spaced from the hook 82 but spring 86 can be overpowered to permit engagement of the hooks as will presently be described.

An arm 99 is secured to shaft 23 by a set screw 9! and a second arm 92 is fastened at 93 to the first arm for radial adjustment relative to shaft 23. The lower part of arm 92 has a stud 9 below the axis of shaft 23 which receives a head 85 on one end of a cable 95. The other end of the cable is provided with a second head 9? attached to one end of a relatively stron tension spring- 98 the other end of which is connected to arm 85 of the hook element 89. vWhen the shaft 23 is in its normal position the cable S5 and spring 58 will be suficiently slack to permit spring 86 to hold the hook element 80 in the normal position shown in Fig. 6.

During normal loom operation rotation of the top shaft 9 will cause the forward end of the actuator rod 62 to slide back and forth in bore ii of the slide guide it and the hook 82 on the rod 62 will miss the hook 8|, thereby permitting the thread holder to remain at rest. When a weft replenishing operation is-called shaft 255 will rock to its set or transfer position shown in Fig. 3 during an interval of loom operation when the lay is passing from its top to its bottom center positions, thereby exertin a pull on cable 95 which will expand spring 98 to exert a turning.

force on hook element 31! in a clockwise direction as viewed in Fig. '7. The eccentric is set onshaft 9 in such position that expansion of spring 98 will occur while the hook 82 is behind the hook but is moving in the direction of arrow at, Fig. 8. By the time the lay reaches approximately its bottom center position, indicated by the downwardly extending crank ii], see Fig. 9, the hook 82 will have moved slightly forward of the hook 8| and the latter will then be moved by spring 98 into position to engage the hook 32. Immediately thereafter the eccentric will begin to move actuator rod 62 rear-wardly to move the thread holder rearwardly. When the lay is at or near front center shaft 23 will return to its normal position, thereby slackening spring 98. At this time hook element 8| has been given part of its rearward movement by hook 82, see Fig. 10, and the mutually engaginginclined surfaces 99 of hooks 8i and 32 will be held together by spring 44. When the lay is at or near its top center position the eccentric will have moved the hook 8! and the thread holder H to their rearmost positions, see Fig. 11, at about the time the shuttle is picked.

At this time the lay, shuttle and thread holder and thread T will be in the positions indicated in full lines in Fig. 13, and the threadwill be favorably located for self-threading of the shuttle S when it is picked. As the shaft continues to turn while the shuttle is in flight the eccentric will move the actuator rod 62 forwardly and the spring :34 will move the thread holder forwardly and also act to hold the hooks 8i and 82 engaged with each other.

Eventually the lay will reach its bottom center position for the second time, see Fig. 12, and the thread holder arm 35 will be against front stop screw i2 after which the eccentric will continue to move the rod 62 forwardly a slight amount to disengage the surfaces 99 so that the weak spring can restore the hook element Bil to its normal position with respect to Slide guide 76. This will restore the parts to their normal position and the thread holder will not be operatively related to the actuator rod 82 other than to afford a support for its forward end.

When the thread holder has returned to its forward position as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 13, the shuttle will have moved along the lay to some such position as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 13, and the thread holder will cooperate with the shuttle to draw the thread T forwardly as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 13, under the fork F and the latter, being supported, will permit continued running of the loom. The shuttle will therefore have been properly threaded and the filling fork supported so that there will be no thread breakage or loom stoppage incident to the weft replenishing operation.

The hooks BI and 82 may be considered as interconnecting which are normally disconnected but can be connected incident to rocking of shaft 23 to its transfer position. These interconnecting means remain engaged with each other for the greater part of a beat of the loom but they do not become engaged immediately upon rocking of shaft 23 to its set position, since this rocking occurs too early in the loom cycle, and the strong spring 98 serves as an energy storing member which when able to do so will cause alignment of hook 8! with hook at.

It is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily limited to the particular type of reserve bobbin magazine shown herein nor to theparticular type of eccentric shown for instance in Figs. 1, 2, l and5. Also, the thread holder H and its supporting arm 35 may, be

considered as a thread. holder means to which the thread of the transferred bobbin is attached and by which this thread is moved first rearwardly and then forwardly. It will be seen that when the thread holder means moves rearwardly there will, be a slight rocking of the slide guide it relative tov the, support to, and there will be a similar rocking due to rise and fall of the rear end of rod 62 due to action of the eccentric. The hook member 88, being mounted on the slide guide, will not; b affected relative to the guide when the. latter rocks.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the invention sets forth simple means by which the crank shaft of a loom may be utilized to move the thread holder backwardly and forwardly incident to a bobbin changing operation and that support for the rear end of rod 52 is derived from the top shaft 8. As shown herein the forward end of the rod 62 derives its support from the thread holder means, but this will not be essential in all forms of the invention since it will be sumcient if the forward end of rod is supported and can be operatively connected to the hook element 80 at the correct time in the operation of the loom. It will also be noted that the spring 98 is under tension due to rocking of shaft 23 to its transfer position during the time close holding engagement is being maintained between the surfaces 99 of the hooks El and 82 by spring 44. The hook ill when first acted upon by a force derived from the setting shaft 23 will engage a part of the actu ator rod 62 forward of the hook 2 2 and the time lost between rocking of shaft 2'5 to its transfer position and the time when a thread holder moving operation can start is taken up by movement of the hook- 82 toward the hook 3i.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, what is claimed is:

1. In a loom having a center filling stop motion fork and a self-threading shuttle to be replenished by a bobbin from which a thread extends, a shaft which rotates during operation of the loom, a thread holder attached to said thread mounted for back and forth motion in the loom, an actuator extending backwardly and for wardly in th loom, means on the shaft efiective to move the actuator rearwardly during the first half of each rotation of the shaft, interconnecting means including two elements nor mally disconnected but connected on a weft replenishing beat of the loom in which the shuttle is replenished by the bobbin, one of said elements being operatively connected to and zno 'ing backwardly and forwardly with the thread holder and the other element being on the actuator, said elements when connected cooperating with said actuator and means on the shaft to move the thread holder rearwardly during the first half of the rotation of the shaft on the weft replenishing beat on which the shuttle is replenished to locate the thread favorably for self-threading of the shuttle when the latter picked subsequent to replenishment by the bobbin, and means operatively connected to the thread holder efiecting forward movement of the thread holder to assist movement of the thread under said fork during the second half or the rotation of the shaft.

2. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein both of said elements derive their support from the thread holder 3. The structure set forth in claim 1, wherein support for the rear end of the actuator is derived from said shaft.

l. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein said one element is a hook on the thread holder and said other element is a hook formed as part of the actuator.

5. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein the loom is provided with the setting shaft which moves from the normal position thereof to transfor position prior to a replenishing operation of the loom, and means acting by a force derived from the setting shaft incident to movement of the latter to the transfer position thereof to effect operative connection of said elements.

6. The structure set forth in claim 1 wherein a pivotal support is provided for the thread holder and a slide guide is pivoted on the thread holder and slidingly supports the forward end of the actuator when said elements are disconnected from each other.

7. The structure set forth in claim 6 wherein the element on the thread holder is pivoted on said. g i

6. The structure set forth in claim 6 wherein the axes of said guide and thread holder are both substantially parallel to, the axis of the shaft.

9. In a loom having a center filling stop motion fork and a self-threading shuttle to be replenished by a bobbin from which a thread extends, a shaft which rotates during operation of the loom, a thread holder attached to the thread mounted for back and forth motion in the loom. an eccentric secured to said shaft, an actuator extending backwardly and forwardly in the loom having the rear end thereof operatively connected to supported by the eccentric, the latter effective to move the actuator rearwardly during the first half, of each rotation of the shaft and move the actuator forwardly during the second half of each rotation of the shaft, interconnecting means comprising an element on the thread holder and another element on the actuator, said elements being normally disconnected but capabio of being connected and when connected being effective to move the thread holder rearwardly during the first half, of the rotation of the shaft occurring on the beat of the loom in which the shuttle is replenished by the bobbin to move the thread to a position favorable for self-threading of the shuttle when the latter is picked subsequent to replenishment by the bobbin, means operative to connect said elements on the weft replenishing beat of the loom in which the shuttle is replenished by the bobbin. and resilient means operatively connected to the thread holder effecting forward movement of the thread holder controlled by the eccentric to assist movement of the thread under said fork during the second half of the rotation of the shaft.

In a weft replenishing loom having a center filling stop motion fork and a shuttle to be replenished by a reserve bobbin from which a thread extends, a loom shaft which rotates during loom operation, a thread holder for said thread, means mounting the thread holder for back and forth movements in the loom, an elongated actuator, part of which derives its support from said shaft,

' operative connections between the shaft and .means effective on the weft replenishing beat of the loom in which said shuttle is replenished by said bobbin to operatively connect the actuator and thread holder to give the latter said backward movement to locate the thread favorably for self-threading of the shuttle, and resilient means thereafter effecting forward movement of the thread holder to move the thread under the filling fork. 1

11. In a weft replenishing loom having a filling stop motion fork and a self-threading shuttle which on a weft replenishing beat of the loom is replenished by a reserve bobbin from which a thread extends, a loom shaft which rotates during loom operation, a thread holder attached to said thread mounted for back and forth movements in the loom, a backwardly and forwardly extending actuator the rear end of which derives its support from said shaft, said actuator being normally ineffective to move the thread holder, a controller having a movement preparatory to said weft replenishing beat of the loom, means controlled by said controller efiective due to said movement of the controller to cause a force derived from the shaft and transmitted through the actuator to effect backward movement of the thread holder incident to said replenishment of the shuttle by said bobbin to locate the thread favorably for self-threading of the shuttle when the latter is picked subsequent to replenishment thereof, and means cooperating with the actuator to elfect forward movement of the thread holder during continued turning of the shaft to move the thread under said fork.

12. In a weft replenishing loom having a filling stop motion fork and a self-threading shuttle which on a weft replenishing beat of the loom is replenished by a reserve bobbin from which a thread extends, a loom shaft which rotates during loom operation, a thread holder for said thread mounted for back and forth movements in the loom, an elongated actuator, an eccentric on the shaft reciprocating the actuator back wardly and forwardly, the actuator when reciprocated being normally inefiective to move the thread holder, a controller having a movement preparatory to said weft replenishing beat of the loom, means controlled by said controller eifective due to said movement of the latter to cause a force derived from the shaft and transmitted through the actuator to effect backward movement of the thread holder incident to said replenishment of the shuttle by said bobbin to locate the thread favorably for self-threading of the shuttle when the latter is picked subsequent to said replenishment, and means thereafter operative and controlled by continued turning of the shaft to effect forward movement of the thread holder to move the thread under said fork.

13. In a weft replenishing loom having a center filling stop motion fork on a lay reciprocated by a driving shaft rotating once each beat of the loom and moving the lay successively through bottom, front, top and back center positions, the loom having a self-threading shuttle which on a replenishing beat of the loom is replenished by a bobbin from which a thread extends, a thread holder to which the thread is attached mounted to be located either in front or back position in the loom, a setting shaft moving from the normal position thereof to transfer position when the lay is between top and bottom center positions on said weft replenishing beat of the loom prior to said replenishment of the shuttle 10 by said bobbin, a backwardly-and forwardly extending reciprocable actuator, actuator means on the driving shaft eifective to move the actuator rearwardly while the lay is moving from approximately bottom center position through front center position to approximately top center position, an operator for the thread holder operatively connected thereto normally out of operative relation with respect to the actuator, a controller for the operator including time delay means operatively connected to said setting shaft efiective on the next bottom center position of the lay after the setting shaft moves to a transfer position thereof to effect operative relation of the operator with respect to said actuator to cause the latter when moving rearwardly to move the thread holder rearwardly to locate the thread favorably for self-threading of the shuttle when the latter is picked subsequent to said replenishment, and means thereafter cooperating with the actuator means while the lay is moving approximately from top center position through back center position to approximately bottom center position to effect location of the thread holder in the front position thereof to move said thread under said filling stop motion fork.

14. In a weft replenishing loom having a center filling stop motion fork on a lay reciprocated to move successively through bottom, front, top and back center positions each beat of the loom by a loom driving shaft rotating each beat of the loom, the loom having a self-threading shuttle which on a weft replenishing operation of the loom is replenished by a bobbin from which a thread extends, a thread holder to which the thread is attached mounted to be located either in front or back position in the loom and having a tendency to be located in front position, a setting shaft moving from the normal position thereof to transfer position prior to arrival of the lay at the bottom center position thereof on said weft replenishing operation of the loom, an eccentric secured to said shaft rotated by the latter in one pick cycles, an actuator operatively connected to the eccentric reciprocated back and forth by the eccentric each beat of the loom, an operator for the thread holder operatively connected thereto normally out of operative relation with respect to the actuator, and control means for the operator operatively connected to the setting shaft effective due to movement of the latter to the transfer position thereof to effect operative relation of the operator with respect to said actuator when the lay is on the bottom center position thereof next following movement of the setting lever to transfer position to cause the actuator to move the thread holder to locate the latter in back position when the lay is near its top center position to move the thread to a position favorable for self-threading of the shuttle when the latter is picked subsequent to said replenishment, and the operator thereafter cooperating with the thread holder due to said tendency of the latter to effect location of the thread holder in the front position thereof when the lay is next in approximately the bottom center position thereof while the replenished shuttle is in flight to move said thread under said filling stop motion fork.

15. In a weft replenishing loom having a center filling stop motion fork and a self-threading shuttle which on a replenishing beat of the loom is replenished by a bobbin from which a thread extends, a shaft which rotates during loom operation, a driving member secured to and turning with Said shaft, a thiad fibldr' member to which the thread is attached mounted for back and forth movements, an actuator extending backvvardly and foiwardly in the lo'om' and having one end thereof perinane'ntlyf connected in operative relation withrespet to one of said members, a Controller which has a movement incident to said Weft replenishing beat of the loom, means cans'e'dby the controllerincident to said movemerit thereof to operatively connect the other end of the actiiator to the other member to cause a ioroe derived fiom said shaft and transmitted through saidinenibei the shaft and said actuator to efieqt rearward niovinentof the thread holder member to place the th'read favorably for s'elfithi'eadin of the s'hiittlewheh the latter is picked siibstiiient to said replehishi'neht thereof, means thefeafter effective diiring continued turning of the shaft to efieet forward movement ofthe thread holder to move the thread under said filling fork. I 7

16. In a thread holder for the threads extendmg from reserve bobbins in a weft replenishing loo'in having a reciprocating actuator provided with a hook, an arm having a hearing at one end thereot and having means at the other end theifeo'f for attachment to the threads, and a hook deriving support from and mounted for pivotal inoverhent with resbeot to said arm for engagement with the hoo k'of the actuator. V 17, m a thread hom r for the threads extendme from reserve bobbins in a weft replenishing loom having a reciprocating actuator rod provided with a hook, an arm having a hearing at one end thereof and having means at the other end thereof for attachment to the threads, a slide guide pivoted on the arm to receive and slidin'gl'y engage said actuator rod, and a hook supported by the slide guide for engagement with the hook of the actuator rod.

18. In a thread holder for the threads extending' from reserve bobbins in aweft replenishing loom having a reciprocating actuator rod pro"- vided with a hook, an arm having a bearing" at one end thereof and having means atthe other ehdtheieof for attachment to the threads, a slide guide iiivoted on the arm to receiveand s'lidingl'y engage said adtiiator rod, and a hook for engagement with the actuator rod hook pivoted on the slide gu de.

19. The thread holder set forth in claim 18 wherein the axesof said bearing on the arm, the slide guide; and the hook are harallel. W

WALTER H; REFERENCES CITED The following feferehces are of reord iii the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Nafm i Etbe 2,531,17 Turner Nov. 21', 1950 2,531,177 Turner Nov. 21, 1950 569,907 Tlirlli Oct. 2, 1953. 

